How to decide whether to repair or replace a washing machine

You open your washing machine to find your latest load soaking wet. Nothing drained, let alone spun. Sigh. Is this the beginning of the end for your washer? Whether for environmental or financial reasons, you don’t want to buy a new washing machine if you don’t need to - but you also don’t want to spend more money fixing it than it’s worth.

If you’re trying to decide whether it’s worth repairing your existing machine, you need to consider the age of your machine, the cost of replacing it, and the potential cost of repair.

In this article, we’ll address these points to help you make the best decision for your home.

Your eco-friendly sensibilities feel that it must be more environmentally conscious to repair your current machine, but you really like the look of that shiny new model.

The truth is, weighing up the pro’s and con’s is a little more complex than that, because repairing an old, and less energy-efficient, machine just to stretch it’s life expectancy out by a year or two might not even save you money or be more environmentally friendly. A new model is likely to use less water and less energy than an older model.

Let’s figure out whether it’s worth fixing, step by step.

First things first. Before you start weighing up the pro’s and con’s of paying to fix versus replace your washing machine, you may not have to do either, because you might be covered under warranty.

Washing machines sold in Australia or New Zealand are covered by a manufacturer's warranty for a set period of time. Most washing machines come with a two-year warranty from the date of purchase, though a handful have 5-year warranties, and some higher end models are even covered for 10 years. If you have one of these, you’ll probably be aware that you’re running the Tesla of washing machines because it will have cost you upwards of $3,000.

The warranty is a promise that the manufacturer will replace or refund the cost of the washing machine if it breaks or is of poor quality within the set period. It’s also possible that when you bought your old washer you took out an extended warranty, from either the manufacturer or the retailer. This provides an extra two-to-three years cover, starting from the day the manufacturer's warranty expires.

So, if your machine is still under warranty (most likely if it’s under two years old or possibly up to five years old), fantastic! Contact the home appliances retailer you bought it from to arrange the next steps in terms of repair or replacement. If you’re unsure, contact the retailer anyway, as they should be able to confirm whether you’re still covered under either the manufacturer’s or extended warranty.

If your washing machine purchase coincided with a memorable event then you might recall when you bought it. Moving house, or a new baby might have been your impetus to upgrade your laundry, in which case you’ll hopefully remember what year it was! Alternatively, you might have kept old receipts or emails, which would be ideal (because it will confirm not only the age of your washing machine, but also how much you spent on it). If you have no recollection or documentation, then take an educated guess. If you need to do this, odds are that your washer will be at least a decade old.

Make a note of this number, e.g. 8 years

There’s no definite number of years that a washing machine should last, but if you have a cheaper or mid-range model (as most people do) that is over 6 or 7 years old, then it’s generally considered to be reaching the end of its lifespan. More expensive models can be expected to last at least a decade. The longer warranties available on some higher end models reflect this life expectancy, because if they’re built to last longer, it’s easier for the manufacturer to offer longer warranties!

However, various factors may affect the stage at which the machine starts having issues. For example, a retired couple putting a load of laundry in their top-loader once a week would be subjecting their washing machine to considerably less wear and tear than a family of five that uses the same model washer every day. 

Similarly, a front loader that is frequently used to clean heavily soiled footie kits using long, warm water washes and high spin cycles is putting in a lot more elbow grease than machines that are used for short, cold, gentle washes.

You’ve had it for years, so you might not remember off the top of your head. If you have kept old receipts or emails from the household appliances retailer relating to the purchase, great. If not - or if you were fortunate enough to inherit the machine from a previous tenant or be gifted it - you can Google the make and model. With appliance models being continually updated and superseded, it’s likely that you won’t find the exact same model for sale any longer, but you should find a model from the same brand that has similar specs and capacity, and this should give you an idea of the price range.

Why do you need to know how much it cost? Because if you happen to have a high end model, you may be more inclined to spend money on fixing it to extend its lifespan.

Make a note of this number, e.g. Old machine: $640

Knowing the price of your previous machine is also useful for planning how much a replacement machine of at least equal capacity and quality will cost. Even if you bought it 8 years ago, you may find that prices haven’t changed that much.

Of course, a lot can change in the years between buying washing machines, so you may now need a different spec machine, larger or smaller capacity, or one that has a higher energy star or water star rating. Will you be upgrading, downsizing or replacing like with like?

Make a note of this number, e.g. New machine: $650-$750

The average cost of washing machine repair in Australia is $100-$500 - that’s a pretty big range, but you can be fairly certain that if your washer is making strange noises and leaking, it’s unlikely to cost you less than a few hundred dollars - especially as a lot of appliance repair tradespeople (like many other trades) are likely to have a callout fee of at least $100.

Of course, repair costs vary according to your location, the nature of the problem and availability and prices of replacement parts. So, contact a local appliance repair company to briefly explain the issue you’re having and enquire what they think it’s most likely to be, and roughly how much they estimate it might cost to fix. If they’re unwilling to suggest what the problem might be and how much it might cost to repair, call the next repair technician on the list to see if they’ll help.

If the repair service says it sounds like you’re dealing with a broken door seal or switch, or a blocked drain pump, it should be a fairly simple and reasonably cheap job. If they think you’ve got an issue with your motor or electronics, though, it could run into a few hundred dollars.

Make a note of the estimated repair cost, e.g. $300

So, now that you’ve got your numbers to hand, it makes it easier to decide whether to replace or repair.

EXAMPLE 1: Your old machine is 8 years old. It cost $640. The estimated cost of fixing it is $300. Replacing it with a similar or slightly better spec machine will cost between $650-$750. Your better option might be to upgrade to a new, more energy efficient and water efficient model. So, time to check out some new replacement options.

EXAMPLE 2: Your old machine is 6 years old. It cost $1,600. The estimated cost of repairing it is $400. Replacing it with a similar or slightly better spec machine will cost between $1500-$1700. Your better option might be to spend the money on fixing it, in the hope that you'll get a few more years life out of this higher end model.

If your current washer has performed its last soak and spin, check out the latest models from a wide range of washing machine brands at Appliances Online. With competitive prices, as well as high Energy Star and Water Star ratings, choose from multiple options, from entry level to high end models.

We deliver washing machines, and the rest of our products, to 95% of Australia’s population for free with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri). Plus, with free delivery and removal of your old washing machine for recycling, you can rest assured that your old washer is being kept out of landfill. If you need some pointers on choosing what type or size model is best for you, read our Laundry Buying Guide.